By Monday Osayande
Seven out of the 12 elected Councilors in Oredo Local Government Area of Edo State have endorsed the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu in the September 19 governorship election in the state.
They said they resisted pressure to leave APC for PDP and endorsed Ize-Iyamu as their governorship candidate.
The Councilors are Hon. Collins Eweka, Ward 12; Mr. Smart Ehioze Ward 03; Mr. Geofrrey Enabulele Ward 08, Mr. Bright Aisien, Ward 04, Mr. Omoregbe Samuel, Ward 07, Mr. Efosa Ogiame, Ward 11, and Mr. Reliance Okugbowa, Ward 09
They met with Pastor Ize Iyamu, candidate of APC, and other Party Leaders on Tuesday at his private residence in Benin City, the State Capital
At the meeting, Obaseki’s ward 04 Councilor, Aisien said that as an elected local lawmaker on the platform of the All Progressives Congress, his loyalty, and others in Oredo LG, remains with the party and they will ensure the victory of Pastor Ize-Iyamu at the poll.
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Other lawmakers attested to Ize-Iyamu’s accessibility, leadership, ability to bring the government closer to the people through other elected local officers in a peaceful government governed by respect engagement and focus on development, as opposed to the victimization and vendetta that presently obtains.
Addressing the lawmakers, Pastor Ize-Iyamu said their visit and open endorsement represent a clear indication to all that the All Progressives Congress maintains full political control of the Oredo Local Government.
His words, “of the 12 Councilors elected to represent the people of Oredo LG, we have seven here with us, including that of the Governor’s ward. It is a clear indication to all that Oredo is APC and we will record a comprehensive victory there at the polls.”
“I salute the Councilors for their courage. I know the victimization that they have been enduring because free choice is now a crime in Edo State due to the desperation of the incumbent, but I assure them that it will come to an end very soon.”
Other APC leaders at the meeting including the Director-General of the Campaign Council for the Edo Governorship election, General Cecil Esekhaigbe, and Hon. Chris Okaeben, the member-elect of Oredo West in the Edo Assembly, all commended the Councilors and them of the party’s support in their ongoing mobilization efforts.
